Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
Being a Christian brings many challenges.
But the most significant challenges come with the conversations that we have in our minds.
We struggle with where we were and where we are heading; our old thinking and way of acting creep back into our lives, followed by guilt and self-condemnation.
But God doesn’t want this to be the way that we live our lives, He has given us the Bible, and with the careful study of this book, we can start to see our lives the way God sees them and begin to live our lives in that manner.
If we are not reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word every day, we will live a very frustrated life as Christian. Once again, this is not what God intended.
Joshua 1:8 NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Look at the promise, study continually, meditate on it day and night; this will help make sure that you obey everything written in it; ONLY then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
That is a beautiful promise!!
James 4:8 NLT
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
We examine our lives against what the Bible says. The way we are to look at the world, how we are to look at others, our relationship with God.
And careful study should produce a desire to change the way we think, what we do, and give us a more compassionate view of those around us.
If this is not happening, we don’t give up. We continue studying; we pray to God to open our eyes and soften our hearts to what we need to start thinking differently and doing differently.
Doing this will require sacrifice; we will need to give up old ways of thinking and doing things differently than before.
1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Living the life of a Christian is about endurance, never giving up, always pressing forward. It is about loving God and loving others.
It’s about examining your life in the truth of God’s Word. It’s about extending the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that God bestowed upon you to the world around you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
I pray that You continue to work on my heart, work on my mind, help me to make the changes in my life that glorify You.
I pray that I look at others and love others the way that You see them with a heart of love, grace, mercy, and compassion.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I Pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
